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12 ways to use the ingredient that goes with everything.

The natural flavor of basil shines in pesto, and the sauce is a perfect addition to pasta meals, chicken, pork, and seafood dishes, and sandwich toppings. But if you’re bored with the usual options, try one of these inventive recipes that showcases pesto in unique and tasty ways. Serve the results with basil lemonade and finish with a strawberry-basil iceblock to enhance the herb’s flavor. Don’t forget to freeze any extra pesto in icecube trays so you can enjoy the garden’s goodness all year long.

1. Strawberry, Goat Cheese and Pesto Bruschetta

Courtesy of Healthy In Candyland

Give bruschetta a decidedly summertime vibe with this simple-yet-delicious recipe from Healthy in Candyland. Spread bread with goat cheese and then pesto, and place sliced strawberries on top. Place on a baking sheet and under the broiler for a few minutes until toast gets browned and crispy around the edges.

2. Pesto Ice Cream with Walnut Pesto Candy

Courtesy of Y-I-EAT-N

Fresh basil leaves, a handful of pine nuts, garlic, and olive oil add a pesto zing to basic homemade ice cream in this inventive recipe from Y-I-Eat-N. A walnut pesto candy can top the savory frozen dish, or serve it with sweet egg noodle pasta and some shaved parmesan for a sweet dinnertime meal.

3. Tomato Pesto Swirl Bread

Courtesy of Cookistry

This gorgeous loaf of bread from Cookistry is made with semolina flour, tomato paste, and pesto. Spread the tomato paste and pesto onto folded dough layers before rolling it up jam-roll style and forming into a ring. Slash the top of the loaf before baking to give hints of the yummy goodness hidden inside.

4. Pesto Potato Mushroom Chickpea Salad

Courtesy of Keepin’ It Kind

Oil-free pesto and a handful of hemp seeds make this summer comfort food recipe from Keepin’ It Kind incredibly healthy. Roasted mushrooms and potatoes combine with chickpeas and pesto in a satisfying salad that’s simple enough to repeat almost every night of the week.

5. Pesto and Brie

Courtesy of The Yummy Life

This fancy-looking pesto appetizer from The Yummy Life is super-fast to assemble and unbelievably good. Just spread a wedge of brie cheese with four tablespoons of pesto, sprinkle some pine nuts on top, and serve it with crackers.

6. Pesto and Avocado Stuffed Sweet Capsicum

Courtesy of Erin Gleeson for The Forest Feast

These colorful mini sweet peppers from The Forest Feast are stuffed with a creamy pesto and avocado filling. Cut off the tops of the peppers—often found in bags at the supermarket—and remove the seeds before piping in a mixture of avocado, pesto, and cream cheese.

7. Pesto Hummus

Courtesy of Deliciously Declassified

A satisfying hummus dip is given an extra level of goodness with pesto in this recipe from Deliciously Declassified. Combine chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice, roasted garlic, and pesto in the food processor, and serve with corn chips.

8. Pesto Deviled Eggs

Courtesy of Fat and Happy

Classic deviled eggs are back in style, and this pesto version from Fat and Happy could be the start of a tasty new tradition. Fresh basil, parmesan and mascarpone cheese, toasted pine nuts, and garlic add a zing to the picnic staple.